Horse Coloring Page

This horse coloring page shows a strong, friendly horse standing in a green field. It wears a saddle with a stirrup, and its long mane and tail flow to one side. A wooden fence runs behind it, soft hills rise in the distance, and small flowers dot the grass at the bottom. Clouds and a round sun fill the sky. Kids aged 5 to 12 will enjoy it.

The horse is one big shape, so it is quick to fill. It takes most kids 20 to 30 minutes. Older kids who love horses can spend longer adding muscle shading and a shiny coat.

A horse coloring page for young riders

Many kids go through a horse stage, and this page is made for them. They can color it to match a pony from a riding lesson, or they can invent a dream horse with a name and a stable. It also works for ranch and farm themes at school.

If you are planning a farm birthday or a trip to the county fair, print a few copies for the car ride.

Real horse coat colors to try

Horses have special names for their colors. A bay has a brown body with a black mane and tail. A chestnut is reddish all over, and a palomino is golden with a pale mane. Grays are often born dark and get lighter with age. Pick one and see if you can match it.

The saddle can be a rich leather brown, though a red blanket beneath it looks smart. Keep the hooves dark. Make the fence pale wood, then use light green for the far hills and a darker green for the field up close.

Tips for a shiny horse

• Color in the direction the hair grows, from the head back along the body.
• Use long strokes on the mane to make it look like it is moving.
• Leave a small pale patch on the shoulder and the rump as a shine.
• Darken the belly and the top of the legs for a round look.

Brown crayons can look flat. Try a layer of orange underneath, then put the brown on top. That gives the coat a warm glow.

What makes horses special

Horses can sleep standing up. A special system in their legs locks the joints, so they can rest without falling. They do lie down for deep sleep, but only for a short time each day.

Their eyes are among the largest of any land animal. Because the eyes sit on the sides of the head, a horse can see almost all the way around itself. That helped wild horses spot danger early.

A foal can usually stand within an hour or two of being born. People measure a horse in hands, and one hand equals four inches. You can read more about the horse on Wikipedia.

Things to try after coloring

Measure your child in hands. Stand them against a wall, mark their height and divide the number of inches by four. Then look up how tall a big draft horse is, and compare.

Write a short story about the horse in this field. Where is it going, and who rides it? Ask a young writer to give it a name and one secret skill. Younger children can act out the story with a toy horse.

Horses also make good history talks. They carried mail, pulled wagons and helped on farms long before there were cars. Ask a grandparent if they ever rode one or saw one working.

A fun craft is to glue strands of yarn on the mane and tail. Brown or black yarn adds texture, and kids can trim it into their own style.

More animals to enjoy

You will find more friends in our animal coloring pages. Pair this page with the rainbow unicorn coloring page for a magical cousin, or try a dog from our dog coloring pages.

Questions